Shadow Island

by Nancy Deas, Mike Deas (Illustrator)

Overview

With nowhere left to live after losing his parents and working his way through a long list of relatives on the mainland, Ollie finds himself at his grandpa’s house in Sueño Bay, "home of the supernatural."

Miserable and intending to get away from the earthquake-prone, rain-soaked island on the next bus out of town, Ollie's getaway plans are altered abruptly when he and three classmates discover something they shouldn't have in a trailer in the woods.

The four unlikely friends come together in a mystery involving supernatural creatures, a ticking clock and one angry gym teacher to save themselves, the creatures and Sueño Bay from a darkness that is infecting the island. If they succeed, will Ollie finally find a place to call home?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459819610
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Series:	Sueño Bay Adventures , #1
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.62(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.31(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nancy Deas is the coauthor of the Sueño Bay Adventures series and Runaway Blanket. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria and grew up on a farm on Mayne Island, BC, wandering forests and beaches. She has a great love of travel and adventure. Nancy now explores Salt Spring Island, where she lives with her family.

Mike Deas is an author/illustrator of graphic novels, including Dalen and Gole, and the Graphic Guide Adventures series. While he grew up with a love of illustrative storytelling, Capilano College's Commercial Animation Program helped Mike fine-tune his drawing skills and imagination. Mike and his family live on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

What People are Saying About This

Richard Van Camp

"I love the Sueño Bay series so much. Each book is a spell of wonder, magic and friendship."

Editorial Reviews

A charming read and a promising start to a new series.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Underlying messages of environmentalism, friendship, and home make this magical mystery a win.

Kirkus Reviews

This fast paced graphic novel is very entertaining. The story is fun and mysterious and the colorful graphics enhance the story and experience.

Must Read Literature: K thru YA

A promising beginning. Equal parts adventure, drama, and fantasy, this middle grade graphic novel will have a broad appeal...does an excellent job at representing economic and racial diversity.

Resource Links

Young readers will eagerly follow the fast-paced adventure...Star here is the artwork, with the muted palette and realistic art style skillfully conveying the naturalistic setting and moody tone...Hand to young readers looking for slightly spooky shenanigans.

School Library Journal

A fun, magical romp that younger readers will enjoy.

Booklist

Commanding and fast-moving…Recommend it to readers who are into the supernatural and adventures or stories of friendship.

Glass of Milk blog Glass of Wine

This story has it all: a mystery set on misty islands, a crew of kids determined to crack the case, cute and cuddly supernatural creatures, and a surprising plot twist that reminds savvy sleuths to second-guess everything.

Hakai Magazine

A charming read and a promising start to a new series.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

A fun, magical romp that younger readers will enjoy.

Booklist

2019-07-24
Moon Creatures, missteps, and mayhem lead a young boy to find a place to call home in this new graphic-novel series.

Since his parents' deaths, Ollie has been shuffled among various family members and is now sent to live with his elderly grandfather in the small, fictional town of Sueño Bay, "Home of the Supernatural," on Robertson Island off the coast of British Columbia. Unhappy with this remote life, he plots leaving the boring town to go back to the mainland. The day before he plans to make his escape, a few of his new classmates pull him into an adventure in which they encounter the Moon Creatures, horned, raccoonlike mammals that are endangered due to environmental factors. In trying to save the sometimes-adorable, sometimes-terrifying creatures, they embark on a perilous journey. Ultimately the story leads to a satisfying ending for all, with Ollie finding a sense of home. Inspired choices in paneling and use of line keep the eyes moving, propelling the story forward while still bringing readers into the fully realized rainy and rural Pacific Northwest setting. Ollie has pink skin and black hair; side characters are interesting and full of personality and have varying racial presentations. There is a refreshing, realistic economic diversity shown, with characters living in houses, trailers, and refurbished school buses.

Underlying messages of environmentalism, friendship, and home make this magical mystery a win. (Graphic fantasy. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews